December 24th, 2012 [Kaleme] – Despite efforts by Nasrin Sotoudeh’s family members to hold a public funeral service for Nasrin’s late mother at one of the mosques in Tehran, judicial and security authorities prevented such public services from taking place and Sotoudeh was instead allowed to attend a private funeral ceremony alongside her family and friends at her late mother’s residence.

According to reports by Kaleme incarcerated human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is currently mourning the passing of her late mother alongside family and friends at a private ceremony taking place at her late mother’s home.

The public funeral service was to have been held at Tehran’s Noor Mosque, however, the individuals responsible for the mosque contacted the family claiming that security authorities had informed them that the funeral service may be politicized and will therefore be prevented from taking place. Following the cancellation of the service at Tehran’s Noor Mosque, preparations were made for holding the services at Hazrat-e-Rasoul Mosque, but this attempt was also circumvented by security authorities.

The family was therefore left with no other alternative but to hold a private Koran recital ceremony at the residence of Sotoudeh’s late mother and Sotoudeh is currently attending this service accompanied by a number of security agents.